Assignment of Genetic Resources & Conservation Theme Uses of Genetic Resources

Assignment of Genetic Resources & Conservation
THEME
Uses of genetic resources
Group Members
Names: Reg. No:
1. Maria Wajid CHEM201107045
2. Aqsa Fiaz CHEM201107015
3. Maryam Zulfqar CHEM201107016
4. Rimsha Akram CHEM201107014
5. Manahil Salam CHEM201107046
6. Maaz Musawar CHEM201107023
7. Muhammad Mohsin CHEM201107038
8. Ghazanfar Abbas CHEM201107020
9. Abdul Rauf CHEM201107057
Submitted to:
Mam Sana Tariq
What does ‘using’ genetic resources mean?
Using genetic resources, whether from plants, animals or micro-organisms, refers to the process of
researching their beneficial properties and using them to increase scientific knowledge and understanding,
or to develop commercial products.
Why are genetic resources useful?
 The rapid development of modern biotechnology over the past decades has enabled us to use
genetic resources in ways that have not only fundamentally altered our understanding of the
living world, but has also led to the development of new products and practices that contribute to
human well-being, ranging from vital medicines to methods that improve the security of our food
supplies.
 It has also improved conservation methods that help safeguard global biodiversity.
 Genetic resources can be put to commercial or non-commercial use:

 In commercial use, companies can use genetic resources to develop specialty enzymes,
enhanced genes, or small molecules. These can be used in crop protection, drug development, the
production of specialized chemicals, or in industrial processing. It is also possible to insert genes
into crops to obtain desirable traits that can enhance their productivity or resilience to disease.
 In non-commercial use, genetic resources can be used to increase knowledge or understanding
of the natural world, with activities ranging from taxonomic research to ecosystem analysis. This
work is usually conducted by academic and public research institutes. The distinctions between
commercial and non-commercial use, and the actors involved, are not always clear cut.
Companies can cooperate with public entities on commercial research, and sometimes research
with no commercial intentions leads to a discovery that has commercial applications.
Different uses by sector

1. Commercial use
Biotechnology industries:
Biotechnology industries span a wide range of activities including pharmaceutical, industrial, and agricultural
technology. The use of genetic resources in these industries is extremely varied.
• Pharmaceutical industry:
 Chemical compounds or substances produced by living organisms found in nature continue to
play an important role in the discovery of leads for the development of drugs and contribute
significantly to the bottom lines of large pharmaceutical companies.
 For example, the US National Cancer Institute worked with a small pharmaceutical
company to develop compounds called Calanolides, derived from a tree in the Malaysian
rainforest. Research demonstrated that they have the potential to treat HIV (type 1) and
certain types of cancer. Clinical trials are ongoing.
• Industrial biotechnology:
 Enzymes are used by textile, detergent, food, feed and other industries to improve the efficiency and
quality of their products and production processes.
 Industrial biotechnology companies are particularly interested in genetic resources found in areas
with high species diversity, as well as in extreme or unique environments, like salt lakes, deserts,
caves, and hydrothermal vents.
• Agricultural biotechnology:
 Seed, crop protection and plant biotechnology industries rely heavily on genetic resources.
 Resources with traits that improve performance and farming efficiency for major crops are a key focus
area for large seed companies. There is considerable growth in the value of the market for plant
biotechnology-based products.
 Ornamental horticulture industries:
 There are about 100-200 plant species used as genetic resources in commercial horticulture and 500
in domestic horticulture.
 Originally, this sector used plants from the wild, but now the majority of the resources are taken
from sources like nurseries, botanical gardens and private collections. In 1998, the South Africa
National Botanical Institute (SANBI) and the Ball Horticultural Company created a partnership
which led to the commercialization of several South African horticultural and floricultural products.
2. Non-commercial use
 Taxonomy
Genetic resources are a key source of information for taxonomy, the science of describing and naming
species. Taxonomic research provides crucial information for effective environmental conservation.
 Conservation
 Genetic resources are the building blocks of life on earth. By developing our understanding of
them, and conserving them, we can improve conservation of threatened species, and the
communities who depend on them.
 Kew Gardens’ Millennium Seed Bank project worked in partnership with farmers’ groups,
community-led nurseries and government agencies in over 50 countries to collect, conserve and
use seeds from a wide range of useful and threatened species.
 Effective benefit-sharing means that the local communities that rely on these natural resources for
food, medicine, fuel and building materials, can continue to do so.

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Assignment of Genetic Resources & Conservation Theme Uses of Genetic Resources

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Assignment of Genetic Resources & Conservation

What does ‘using’ genetic resources mean?

Why are genetic resources useful?

 Genetic resources can be put to commercial or non-commercial use:

Different uses by sector

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